Book Marketing for Nonfiction Authors Blog

The Pros and Cons of Traditional vs. Self-Publishing

The world of publishing can be broad and complex because the options and rules are constantly changing. I have personally pursued both self-publishing and traditional publishing and have learned (sometimes the hard way) the challenges and rewards of both options. Here they are:

Self-Publishing Pros

You keep control over all of your rights.

Individual book cost is low, resulting in a higher profit margin when you sell books yourself.

Distribution is available on Amazon and other online bookstores, making it easier than ever to reach a broad audience since the majority of us are buying books online anyway.

Self-Publishing Cons

You have to do all the work: establish a publishing company, purchase an ISBN, get the cover created, lay out the text, get listed with distributors, etc. (unless you hire a custom publisher for assistance).

Startup costs can be high since you typically have to purchase a large quantity of books if you do it all yourself, or invest in custom publishing services.

Revisions can be expensive if you haven’t yet sold the bulk of your initial inventory (beware of ordering more books than you can sell).

Traditional Publisher Pros

Added credibility when your book is published with a major press—for some organizations, this makes a difference.

Broader distribution is more likely available vs. publishing yourself.

Your book is likely to appear on bookstore shelves (though it will be pulled quickly if the book doesn’t sell and the majority of consumers buy books online).

Traditional Publisher Cons

Unless you make the best seller list or leverage your book to grow your business, you aren’t likely get rich. Publishers typically pay authors around $1.00 per book sold!

Book advance checks are lower than ever: averaging around $5,000 to $10,000—and you must earn that back, $1.50 at a time, before you will see any additional royalties.

You will lose control and many of the rights to your work. For example, most publishers require exclusive rights to the e-book version of your book, meaning that you can’t sell or distribute it to anyone.

With all of this said, I personally decided to abandon traditional publishing. I don’t want to give away my rights, have my book title changed, earn pennies per book, or be at the mercy of a big corporation that isn’t truly invested in my success. What about you? Are you going after a publishing contract or taking back control? Any experiences you can share here?

The world of publishing can be broad and complex because the options and rules are constantly changing. I have personally made it a point to pursue both self-publishing and traditional publishing and will continue to leverage both for their distinct pros and cons. Here are some to consider:

Self-Publishing Pros

üYou keep control over all of your rights.

üIndividual book cost is low, resulting in a higher profit margin when you sell books yourself.

üDistribution is available on Amazon and other online bookstores, making it easier than ever to reach a broad audience since the majority of us are buying books online anyway.

Self-Publishing Cons

üYou have to do all the work: establish a publishing company, purchase an ISBN, get the cover created, lay out the text, get listed with distributors, etc. (unless you hire a custom publisher for assistance).

üStartup costs can be high since you typically have to purchase a large quantity of books if you do it all yourself, or invest in custom publishing services.

üRevisions can be expensive if you haven’t yet sold the bulk of your initial inventory (beware of ordering more books than you can sell).

Traditional Publisher Pros

üAdded credibility when your book is published with a major press—for some organizations, this makes a difference.

üBroader distribution is more likely available vs. publishing yourself.

üYour book is likely to appear on bookstore shelves (though it will be pulled quickly if the book doesn’t sell and the majority of consumers buy books online).

Traditional Publisher Cons

üUnless you make the best seller list or leverage your book to grow your business, you aren’t likely get rich. Publishers typically pay authors around $1.50 per book sold!

üBook advance checks are lower than ever: averaging around $5,000 to $10,000—and you must earn that back, $1.50 at a time, before you will see any additional royalties.

üYou will lose control and many of the rights to your work. For example, most publishers require exclusive rights to the e-book version of your book, meaning that you can’t sell or distribute it to anyone.